The prize money was 250,000 pounds. Since there was no scientific breakthrough achieved which had been suitable to replace animal use in the cosmetic production entirely, the prize money was divided to award achievements in five categories.

The 2012 prize Winner who was announced in the Science category was the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Italy, for their work on toxicity pathways in heptatotoxicology and developmental toxicology. Under the leadership of the JRC there is also the EURL-ECVAM (European Union Reference Laboratory on Alternatives to Animal Testing).

Three institutions receiced the lobbying prize, for instance the Humane Society International, USA, for their work on removing animal tests from the EU’s non-food pesticide regulations.

In the training category the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, USA, received the prize for their vital work on training researchers in non-animal methods from Brazil to Japan. Recently, InVitroJobs reported about the IIVS´s activities in China. The second price winner was InterNICHE For their work in training in former Soviet states, South America and Africa.

Furthermore, three institutions won the public awareness prize, for example the Japan Anti-Vivisection Association for their successful campaign to persuade Shiseido to abandon animal testing.

In the category young researchers, five young scientists won the prize for their developments of in vitro tests as replacement methods in the field of neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity. One of the young researchers was honoured for his work on expanding an existing animal-free test into new areas.

For more information: http://www.lushprize.org/